Saturday February 2, 2008
Arterial line colonization and infection

In this month of Critical Care Medicine 1, a study published from australia: Prospective study of peripheral arterial catheter infection and comparison with concurrently sited central venous catheters. It was prospective 24-month cohort study. 331 arterial catheters were observed for 1,082 catheter days, and 618 central venous catheters for 4,040 catheter days.

All catheters were inserted by trained personnel under aseptic conditions, and management was standardized.

Results:

• The incidence per 1,000 catheter days of catheter-related bloodstream infection was 0.92 for arterial catheters and 2.23 for central venous catheters.
• Arterial catheter colonization was not significantly different than that in central venous catheters.
• Femoral arterial catheters were colonized more often than radial arterial catheters
• Colonization was significantly higher when the catheter was inserted in the operating theater or emergency department compared with the ICU !

Conclusions: The incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection from arterial catheters was low. However, both arterial catheter colonization and rates of catheter-related bloodstream infection were similar to those in concurrently sited and identically managed central venous catheters. By inference, the arterial catheter should be accorded the same degree of importance as the central venous catheter as a potential source of sepsis.

Reference: click to get abstract

Prospective study of peripheral arterial catheter infection and comparison with concurrently sited central venous catheters - Critical Care Medicine. 36(2):397-402, February 2008.